Electric gas-filled glow-discharge device



July 3, 1928. 1,675,350

G. HOLST ET AL ELECTRIC GAS FILLED GLOW DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed Feb. 3. 1922 Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GILLES HOLST, EKIO OOSTEBHUIS, AND JOHANNES BBUIJNES, OI EINDHOVEN,

NETHERLANDS, ASSIGNORS T NAAMLOOZE VENNOOTSCHAP PHILIPS GLOEILAMP- ENFAIBBIEKEN, OI EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS.

ELECTRIC GAS-FILLED GLOW-DISCHARGE DEVICE.

Application filed February 3, 1922, Serial No. 583,998, and in the Netherlands February 9, 1921.

The invention relates to electric gas filled glow discharge devices for amplifying electric current variations, for operating as a relay and similar purposes, and particularly 6' relates to the arrangement of the electrodes in such devices and to the relative potentials impressed upon these electrodes.

It is generally known that in electric discharge tubes the current may be controlled by means of one or more controlling electrodes and that such tubes may be operated as a relay.

Now it has appeared that a very slmple and useful device of such kind ma be con Ill structed by 'making use of an in ependent discharge through a rare gas, such as argon or neon, or a mixture of rare ases, in which only a luminous cathode g ow discharge appears.

According to the invention at least one auxiliary electrode is placed in close proximity to the anode and has a small potential difference with regard to said anode. It results that the current in the circuit of the controlling electrode can be kept very small or even zero, whereas the anode current is controlled by the potential of the controlling electrode. 1

In order, that theinvention may be better understood a preferred embodiment will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which a glowdischarge tube embodying the inventlon and its connections to the electric circuits are shown 5 by way of example.

With reference to the drawin 1 IS the glass vessel provided with a suite 1e filhng of rare as such as neon or a mixture of rare gases. lhe anode 2 and the controlling electrode 3 each consist of a coil, the two coils having the same diameter and having their respective windings disposed ad acent to each other. In the common axis of these coils the cathode 4, consisting of a small plate or pin of magnesium 1s arranged.

If magnesium is chosen as a material for the cathode the ignition tension is reduced with regard to the tension necessary to start the discharge if other generally used "electrode materials such as tungsten, iron,

nickel, etc. are made use of.

The composition and pressure of the filling and the distance between the eetrodes should be so chosen that during the operation of the tube the luminous glow discharge appears on the cathode only.

The tube may be so constructed that when a potential of 120 volts is applied to the anode-circuit a. current of suitable strength will pass between cathode and anode.' If under these conditions a potential of say 20 volts or less lower than that of the anode is applied to the controlling electrode, the cur rent passing to the said electrode will be very small or even zero.

If on the other hand small otential variations occur between the ano e and controlling electrode, variations of relatively large amplitude in the current passing from anode to cathode will be caused thereby, so that the tube may be operated as a relay or as an amplifier as desired.

When the device is to be used as an am pllfier a system of connections as diagrammatically shown in the drawing may be used.

Herein e is a battery of suitable voltage, the terminals of which are connected to the terminals aa of a potentiometer 5. The points a and c are also connected to the cathode and the anode respectively.

The controlling electrode 3 is connected to an intermediate point b of the potentiometer, having a small potential difierence with re spect to the terminal a, the position of 7) with regard to a and 0 being variable.

6 is a transformer, on the primary circuit of which certain small potential variations are impressed. These variations cause variations in the potential-difierence between the anode and the controlling electrode, which in turn cause variations of considerable amplitude in the anode current, which passes through the prima windings of a transformer 7, the secon ary windings of which are connected in series with a receiving instrument, such as the telephonic receiver 8.

It will be apparent to any one skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to form of a coil, a controlling electrode, also wound in theform of a coil, said coils having substantial] the same diameter and being couxially disposed with their respective windings in close proximity to each other, the composition and pressure of saidgas filling being of such nature and value that a luminous glow discharge, occurs from the cathode only.

2. An electric gas-filled glow discharge device comprising in combination an anode consisting of a wire wound in the form of a coil, a controlling electrode, also wound in the form of a coil, said coils having substantially the same diameter and being coaxially disposed with their respective windings in close proximity to each other and a cathode consisting of magnesium and centrally disposed within said coils, the composition and pressure of said gas filling being ada ted for establishing a luminous low disc arge which is restricted to the cat ode only.

3. A discharge tube comprising in combination a cathode, an anode, and at least one controlling electrode, said anode and controlling electrodes being wound in the form of coils, and said coils being in the same cylindrical surface.

4. A discharge tube comprising in combination a cathode, an anode wound in the form of a coil, and at least one controlling electrode wound in the form of a coil, said coils having substantially the same diameter and being coaxially disposed with their respective windings in close proximity to each other.

5; A glow discharge tube comprising in combination a as filled envelope, a cathode, an anode woun in the form of a coil,'and at least one controlling electrode wound in the form of a coil, said coils havingisubstantially the same diameter and being c'oaxially disposed with their respective windings in close proximity to each other.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures. v

GILLES HOLST. EKKO OOSTERHUIS.-

JOHANNES BRUIJNES. 

